AT&T First Foreign Carrier to be Granted New Telecom Licenses in India

AT&T Global Network Services India Private Limited (AT&T India), a joint venture which is majority-owned by AT&T, has become the first foreign telecom operator in India to secure National Long Distance/International Long Distance (NLD/ILD) licenses to serve global and India-headquartered companies with advanced telecommunications services. AT&T India is planning to provide Virtual Private Network services to the corporate enterprise segment by the end of 2006.

AT&T presently supports its global customer requirements in India through a cooperation agreement with a local licensed service provider, consistent with government regulations. Once AT&T India becomes operational later this year, AT&T India will directly serve the corporate enterprise market.

AT&T said the announcement was made possible by the Indian Government's new policy of November 2005 on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which allows up to 74% foreign ownership for companies doing business in the country. AT&T owns 74% of AT&T India while the remaining 26% equity is held by Mahindra Telecommunications Investment Private Limited.

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